1. Service-Learning Contact Information
2. Service-Learning Fact Sheet
A complete PDF version of Worcester County's Service-Learning Implementation Plan is available below.
Implementation Plan
See the complete fact sheet (PDF file).
Students participate in team projects in each content area in grades 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Breakdown: Service-learning is infused into grades 6 through 8 in thematic units developed by grade level teams (language, arts, science, scoial studies, and mathematics) or special subject eams (music, band, physical education, food science, teen economics, art, foreigh language, and tech ed). Service-learning is alsoinfused into the required 9th grade social studies course and integrated into the 9th grade government curriculum. This instruction is supported by interdisciplinary planning with other 9th grade teachers.
Transfer Policy: Students who transfer to Worcester County Public Schools after grade 6, but before grade 12, who, after an evaluation of their official record, have not completed the state service-learning requirement will need to:
- enroll in and successfully complete the Government course, or a service-learning elective, and/or
- document 25 hours of service time in an approved school and/or community site for each year enrolled.
Reporting: Service-learning will be reported on the middle school report card starting in the 2007-2008 school year. Service-learning completion is reported as a passing course grade in high school government.
3. Teacher Fellows (see overview)
Rhonda Walsh, 2011, Berlin Intermediate School (Social Studies), Worcester County, rhonda@walsh.ws
Grow Berlin Green (environmental)
Jamie Bartlett, 2009, Stephen Decatur High School (Government), Worcester County, JEBarlett@mail.worcester.k12.md.us
Diakonia Personal Needs Drive Service-Learning Project (poverty)
Twynette Binns, 2009, Pocomoke Middle School (Social Studies), Worcester County, TSBinns@mail.worcester.k12.md.us
The Costen House Service-Learning Project (historic preservation)
Beau Brooks Williams, 2008, Snow Hill Middle School (Social Studies), Worcester County, bbwilliams@mail.worcester.k12.md.us
Assisting Assateague State Park
Snow Hill Middle School partnered with Assateague State Park during the 2006-2007 school year. The project began with visits to Assateague State park to assess the park’s needs which could by met by our students. Next, throughout the year, Assateague State Park met with our students to help teach them about the diverse biology of the park, which related to several science standards. And finally, we completed public relation projects for the park in the form of posters and bulletins boards and visited the park to help with a clean-up project.
Decatur Way...The Way to Grow
Stephen Decatur High School adopted a new philosophy known as the "Decatur Way...The Way to Grow," promoting student pride, responsibility, respect, and achievement. Building on this theme, resource teacher Tom Sites and I developed a plan that would allow our 20 high school students to become actively involved in our school through service-learning. Our plan allows for our students to plan, construct, and maintain a new courtyard area for our school to be used by the entire student body for various class activities. Unique to other student service-learning projects, this is a "work in progress." This project will allow our classes in the future to remain involved by maintaining the courtyard and designing additional features for the courtyard as requested by the teachers in our building. It is estimated that our project will take two years to complete.